Cruise lines avoid Europe ports with striking workers

Cruise lines have changed some itineraries to avoid general strikes at ports in southern Europe this week.

The Celebrity Constellation, which was scheduled to call at Vigo, Spain, on Wednesday, will instead spend the day at sea. It will call at Porto (Leixoes) in Portugal on Thursday and return to Vigo on Friday.

Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas, which was scheduled to call at Lisbon on Wednesday, will instead call at Lanzarote, Spain.

According to Inchcape Shipping Services, a global maritime services provider, sporadic labor troubles have been reported in various Spanish ports, including Vigo.

Inchcape said stevedores are on strike in Lisbon and two other Portuguese ports, but workers are on the job in Leixoes.